Modifying the STM Tip for the ' Ultimate ' Imaging of the Si(111)-7×7 Surface and Metal-supported Molecules

Author: Wang Ye-liang  

Publisher: Swiss Chemical Society

ISSN: 0009-4293

Source: CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry, Vol.66, Iss.1, 2012-02, pp. : 31-37

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Abstract

We report on high-resolution STM measurements with modified probe tips. First, both the rest atoms and adatoms of a Si(111)-7×7 surface are observed simultaneously. The visibility of rest atoms is dependent upon the sample bias voltage (less than -0.7 V) and is enhanced by sharpening the tip, which is rationalized by first-principles calculations. Second, a tip with a perylene molecule adsorbed at its apex is used to discriminate the molecular states and the metal states of the underlying Ag(110) surface, which is attributable to a mismatch between the energy levels of the functionalized tip and the adsorbates on silver. Lastly, high-resolution images of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) molecules on Au(111) are obtained by using an O2-terminated tip, and the images reveal rich intramolecular features arising from molecular orbitals that are not observed when using clean metallic tips.

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